latta



2 Sheets-Sheet 1.

(No Model.)

B. G. LATTA.

VELOGIPEDE.

Patented Sept. 29, 1885.

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N. PETERS, Phato-Lilbcgnplwr. WltllklKlGIL I16,

(No Model.) 2 Sheets-Sheet 2.

E. G. LATTA.

VBLOGIPEDE.

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UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

EMMIT G. LATTA, OF FRIENDSHIP, NEW YORK, ASSIGNOR OF ONEHALF TO ADRIANO. LATTA, OF SAME PLACE.

VELOCIPEDE.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 327,399, datedSeptember 29,1885.

Application filed March 31, 1885. (No model.)

To all whom it may concern.-

Be it known that I, EMMIT G. LATTA, of Friendship, in the county ofAllegany, in the State of New York, have invented new and usefulImprovements in Velocipedes, of which the following is a specification.

The Object of this invention is to provide a simple device for adjustingthe driving-wheel in the fork-arms; also, .to provide a simple devicefor adjusting the crank-wheels, to which power is primarily applied, andfrom which it is transmitted to the driving-wheel by endless chains;also, to provide the crank-wheels with a ball-bearing which can bereadily adju sted for wear, and which will permit the crank-wheels to bereadily aligned with the chain-wheels on the hub of the driving-wheel;also, to provide the machine with a safe and effective brake; also, toprovide the machine with a saddle which may be adjusted for riders ofdifferent sizes, and which can be readily raised at either end andadjusted forwardly or backwardly on the perch, and be readily removedfrom the machine, if desired.

My invention consists to these ends of .the improvements which will behereinafter fully set forth, and pointed out in the claims.

In the accompanying drawings, consisting of two sheets, Figure l is aside elevation of a bicycle provided with my improvements. Fig. 2 is ahorizontal section, on an enlarged scale, in line a: 00, Fig. 1. Fig. 3is a horizontal section of the foot-lever, on an enlarged scale, in liney Fig. 1. Fig. 4 is a horizontal section of the support of thecrank-wheel, on an enlarged scale, in line 2 2, Fig. 1. Fig. 5 is across-section, on an enlarged scale, of one of the crank-wheels andsupporting parts. Fig. 6 is a face view of the cone applied to thecranlewheel. Fig. 7 is a cross-section through the crank-boss. Fig. Sisa side elevation of the brake on an enlarged scale. Fig. 9 is alongitudinal section of the saddle. Fig. 10 is a top plan View thereofwith the leather cover of the saddle shown in dotted lines. Figs. 11,12, and 13 are crosssections in lines as m, y y,

B represents an arm extending downwardly from the lower end of each forkbelow the center of the driving-wheel.

0 represents the crank-wheels, cthe endless chains, and G thechain-wheels formed on the hub of the driving-wheel.

D representsa circular frame or lug, formed at the junction of eachfork-arm with the arm B, and cl represents the bearings of the axle,

which are seated in the frames D and capable of turning therein.

(1 represents the axle to which the hubs G of the driving-wheel aresecured, and which are j ournaled in the bearings din any suitablemanner. Plain cylindrical bearings are shown in the drawings, butball-bearings of ordinary and well-known construction are preferablyemployed. The journals of the axle d are arranged eccentrically in thebearings d, so that by turning the bearings in the circular framesD theaXle and the driving-wheel attached thereto can be adjusted forwardly orbackwardly, or up and down, as may be desired. The bearings d aresecured in the frames D by setscrews 11 after the bearings have been adjusted. By this means the driving-wheel may be arranged forwardly in thefork, as represented in Fig. 1, for greater safety in descending hillsor in riding over rough roads, or backwardly for better control on goodroads, or better application of power in traveling uphill, and thedriving-wheel may be raised or lowered in the fork for adjusting thedrivechains, as may be desired. The balls of the bearing may be arrangedbetween the box 01 and the journals of the axle, or separatebearing-boxes may be secured in the boxesdif desired. This eccentric boxis equally desirable in ordinary bicycles for the purpose of shiftingthe driving-wheel and increasing or decreasing the rake of the machine.

E is an arm, which extends rearwardly from the arm B, and is securedthereto by a clampsleeve 6, so as to be vertically adjustable on thesame.

F is a bracket or support, which is attached to the arm E, and whichsupports the crankwheel and brake mechanism. The bracket F is adjustableforwardly and backwardly on the arm E, so that the crank wheel can beadjusted forwardly or backwardly, if desired, and is secured to the armE by a set-screw, f, when adjusted. By raising and lowering the arm E onthe arm B the tension of the drivingehain is adjusted. The arm E is ofthe same form in cross-section as the arm B, so that the bracket F canbe directly applied to the arm B upon removing the arm E. By this meansthe crank-wheel can be placed in its extreme forward position.

It is obvious that the arm E may be reversed upon the extension B, so asto project forwardly from the latter, and this may be desirable when theextension B is not perpendicular, but has a certain backwardinclination.

For a less expensive construction the arm E can be made in one piecewith the arm B, when the drive-chain is adjusted by the eccentricbearing-box d.

9 represents the shaft or axle of the crank- Wheel 0, made in one piecetherewith and provided with an external screw-thread through out itslength.

G represents the crank, secured to the outer end of the axle g by meansof an internally screw-threaded hub and a key, h.

I represents the bearing-box, formed on the bracket F, t the cone formedon the inner side of the hub of the crank G, and j the cone secured tothe outer side of the web or plate of the crank-wheel 0 around the axleg. The web or plate of the crank -wheel is formed near the edge of itsrim, in order to afford a long bearing for its axle in the box I.

1; represents the balls interposed between the box I and the cones i andj. This construction locates the two rows of balls comparatively farapart, and is more compact than the usual construction, as well ascheaper and more rigid. The bearing is adjusted by turning the cone j onthe screw-threaded shaft as far as is necessary, and then securing it inposition by a set-screw, j, which taps into the web of the crank-wheel,and engages with its head in one of anurnber of notches with which theperiphery of the flange of the cone j is provided, as represented inFigs. 5 and 6. If it is found, after several adjustments, that thecrank-wheel is out of line with the chainwheel on the axle d of thedriving-wheel, the key h is removed, and the crank is turned on the axle9 until the chain-wheels are in line, when the key is again inserted andthe crank secured.

K represents the brake-levers, provided at theirforward ends withfoot-rests k, and pivoted to the brackets F by bolts or studs k,projecting inwardly from said brackets into the depressions in thechain-wheels.

K represents the short arm of the brakelever, which forms thebrake-shoe, and bears, when the brake is tightened, against the innerside of the crank-wheel 0.

Z represents a small screw or projection, secured in one of severalopenings, Z, formed in the brake-lever K, and bearing against the rearside of the arm B, so as to support the brake-lever in a'position inwhich the brakeshoe K clears the crank-wheel when it is not desired toapply the brake, the support afforded by the projection Z beingsufficient to permit the foot to be supported on the footrests withoutapplying the brake. When it is desired to apply the brake,the levers Kare sprung inwardly by a pressure against the,

foot-rests until the stops Z pass by the arms B,

when a downward pressure of the foot-rests applies the brake. Bycombining the brake with the crank-wheel the pressure is applied belowthe center of the driving-wheel, which prevents the machine from turningover forwardly when the brake is applied, and enables the machine to beheld in check on steep grades with safety. The tightening of the brakeis also less tiresome to the rider than in a brake applied byhand,especially in coasting down long hills. The spring of thebrakelevers holds these levers against the arms B with sufficient forceto prevent noise.

In order to release the brake the foot-levers are raised by an upwardpressure under the foot-rests, or, if desired, a retracting-spring maybe connected with the brake-levers. The latter may be arranged toproject backwardly of the arms B,instead of in front of the same, asshown; in which case the rider may bring the'machine to a sudden stopwithout danger of being thrown forward; but such an arrange ment of thebrakelever is not as desirable as the one shown.

M represents the cover or seat of the saddle, which may be constructedof leather or other flexible material.

M is the metallic stretcher or transverse plate, to which the rear endof the seat M is fastened in the usual manner.

m m represent hooks formed on the under side of the stretcher M on bothsides of the center line of the saddle.

N represents the spring whereby the rear end of the saddle is supported,and n represents a cross-head secured to the upper end of the spring N,and provided with laterallyprojeeting pivots a, which engage with thehooks m m of the seat. The hooks an open IIO forwardly, as shown in Fig.15, so that the saddle can be disconnected from the pivots n by aforward movement of the cross head a, which can be easily effected bypushing the upper end of the spring N forwardly. The pivots a and hooksm form hinges on both sides of the spring N, which permit the saddle tokeep its proper position when the spring is compressed and prevent therear portion of the saddle from tipping sidewise.

0 is ametallic plate or support, which is riveted to the under side ofthe front end of the seat M, anl provided with a central socket, 0,opening rearwardly.

represents a spring, which supports the front end of the saddle, and isprovided at its front end with a pivot, 19, which engages in the socket0. Upon disconnecting the crosshead a from the stretcher M, the seat canbe moved forwardly, so as to disengage the socket o from the pivot 19,and in this manner the saddle can be quickly detached from the machinewhen desired-for instance, when the machine is left out in the rain, orwhen the machine is left in a place where it might be used by otherpersons.

The lower portion of the spring N is coiled, as represented in Fig. 9,and secured to the perch A by a bracket, Q, which rests against theupper side of the perch. The inner coil, of, of the spring N restsagainst the upper concave side, a of the bracket Q, and is securedthereto by a cross-piece, g, which is held in place by a clip, R. Thelatter straddles the perch and its legs pass through recesses in thesides of the bracket Q, so that upon tightening the screwnnts at theends of the clip the bracket is secured to the perch and the spring tothe bracket. Upon looseu ing the clip the bracket can be moved forwardlyand backwardly on the perch, thereby adjusting the saddle forwardly orbackwardly, and the spring can be turned in its seat in the bracket,thereby throwing the upper end of the spring forwardly or backwardly, asmay be desired. The bracket is provided with a curved slot or opening,q, through which the outer coil, if, of the spring passes loosely, so asto permit the spring to play freely.

Instead of constructing the spring of a flat bar of steel, as shown, itmay be bent of a single length of wire having its center por tions bentto form the cross-bead a, and its parallel ends bent to form thescroll-spring.

It is obvious that aspring with a single coil may be used instead of thedouble coil which is shown in the drawings.

The rear end, 8, of the spring-arm P is curved, as shown in Fig. 9, andsecured to a bracket, S, by a cross-piece, s. The bracket S is securedto the perch by a clip, 8 which also serves to hold the cross-piece 8'against the curved end of the spring 1?, and the latter against thebracket.

By loosening both clips R and s the saddle can be raised or lowered atboth ends to suit different riders, or it may be adjusted forwardly orbackwardly on the perch to any desired position, while, by moving theclips toward or from each other on the perch, any desired tension may begiven to the seat. By separating the clips on the perch the spring N iscompressed and its tension increased.

For a less expensive construction the front end of the spring 1? may beriveted to the front end of the seat, and, if desired, the spring N maybe used with a seat, the front end of which is secured to the neck ofthe perch, thereby dispensing with the supporting-spring I) The hooks mand-pivots a at the rear end of the seat, and the pivot 9 and socket 0at the front end of the seat, constitute slip-j oints, which openinwardly or toward each other and permit the ready attachment andremoval of the seat, as described.

I claim as my invention- 1. The combination, with the fork A providedwith an extension, B, of an arm, E, projecting rearwardly from theextension B, and a crank-wheel support, F, adj ustably secured to thearm E, substantially as set forth.

2. The combination, with the fork A provided with an extension, B, of anarm, E, made vertically adjustable on the extension B and projectingtherefrom, and a crankwheel support, F, adjustably secured to the arm E,substantially as set forth.

3. The combination, with the crank-wheel arranged below the center ofthe drivingwheel, of a brake adapted to be tightened against thecrank-wheel, substantially as set forth. a

4. The combination, with the crank-wheel arranged below the center ofthe drivingwheel, ofa brake adapted to be tightened against thecrank-wheel and a foot-lever whereby the brake is operated,substantially set forth.

5. The combination, with the fork, of a brake-lever provided with a stopwhich supports the brake-lever and adapts the same for use as afoot-rest, substantially as set forth.

6. The combination, with the fork provided with an extension, B, of anarm, E, bracket F, crank-wheel O, and brake-lever K, pivoted to thebracket F, substantially as set forth.

7. The combination, with the crank-wheel 0, provided with an axle, g, ofa bearing-box, I, an inner adjustable cone, j, and a crank, G, providedwith a cone, 2', and secured to the outer end of the axle by ascrew-thread and key, substantially as set forth.

8. The combination, with the fork provided with circular frames D, ofbearings d ICC seat, n", to which the curved end of the spring 15 isadjustably secured, substantially as set forth.

11. The combination, with the perch and saddle, of the scroll-spring N,the supporting bracket Q, provided with a curved seat, 91,, 20 and slotq, and a clip, R, substantially as set forth.

W'itncss my hand this 24th day of March, 1885.

EMMIT G. LATTA. Witnesses:

HERMAN RIcE, W. WARD RICE.

